NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY PROGRAM TO ATTENUATE OBESITY AND PROMOTE PHYSICAL AND METABOLIC FITNESS IN ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL-CHILDREN

Obesity and low levels of physical and metabolic fitness are risk fact ors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The purpose of this inves tigation was to attenuate obesity and improve physical and metabolic f itness in elementary school children. Schools have the opportunity, me chanisms, and personnel in place to deliver nutrition education, fitne ss activities, and a school food service that is nutritious and health y. Cohorts from grades 3 to 5 in two school districts in rural Nebrask a (Intervention/Control) participated in a 2-year study of physical ac tivity and modified school lunch program. Data collection for aerobic capacity, body composition, blood chemistry, nutrition knowledge, ener gy intake, and physical activity was at the beginning and end of each year. Int received enhanced physical activity, grade specific nutritio n education, and a lower fat and sodium school lunch program. Con cont inued with a regular school lunch and team sports activity program. At year 2, Int lunches had significantly less energy (9%), fat (25%), so dium (21%), and more fiber (17%). However, measures of 24-hour energy intake for Int and Con showed significant differences for sodium only. Physical activity in the classroom was 6% greater for Int compared to Con (p<0.05) but physical activity outside of school was similar to 1 6% less for Int compared to Con (p<0.05). Body weight and body fat wer e not different between schools for normal weight or obese children. N o differences were found for cholesterol, insulin, and glucose; howeve r, HDL cholesterol was significantly greater and cholesterol/HDL was s ignificantly less for Int compared to Con (p<0.05). It appears that co mpensation in both energy intake and physical activity outside of scho ol may be responsible for the lack of differences between Int and Con.